Some Sunday mornings stay with you long even after the day ends. Goonj Chaupal on 17 May was such a Sunday. Chaupal is an annual gathering by Goonj, a unique space where change makers, social innovators, and conscious citizens come together to discuss, reflect, and act on pressing societal issues. It is a place of celebration, connection, and commitment to change! In the end it leaves behind new ways of seeing, deeper questions, shared laughter, and a quiet pull towards doing something more meaningful together. This year, Chaupal at Hyderabad became exactly what was promised, ‘important conversation, in a lighter mood’. The people of Hyderabad held the space with warmth, curiosity, and honesty, allowing conversations to unfold gently and naturally, with reflection and laughter weaving everyone together. The atmosphere came alive during the two dance performances, one rooted in culture by Nihanthri Reddy and her disciples and the other by artist Harsha Komet on peace and togetherness. From the very beginning, the room carried a quiet eagerness, people ready to listen, ask, reflect, and understand development beyond familiar narratives. As Mr. Anshu Gupta, Founder of Goonj and Gram Swabhiman, began, the conversation slowly opened up layers around dignity, ownership, relationships, and the idea of building change together, not for others but with them. The intention to do good showed up in the steady stream of questions, each one reflecting how deeply people want to engage with social realities in a more grounded and meaningful way. The panel discussion brought together diverse journeys and lived experiences from across the development ecosystem. Each panelist added a distinct lens, sharing not just their association with Goonj, but also speaking openly about the realities, challenges, myths, and possibilities of working in the social sector. These exchanges helped build a more layered and honest understanding of development work and the people who hold it. More than an event, Chaupal is like a collective coming together of people who believe in dialogue, community participation, and shared responsibility. Spaces like this are to remind us that change often begins quietly, in simple, honest conversations rooted in empathy and human connection.
May 2026